Background

 

LAQUASIG, was created in 1998 as a Aquaculture/GIS dedicated unit of Santa Úrsula Universi'ty's Biological and Environmental Sciences School.

 

        The lab's main function is to provide learning and research experiences for students at undergraduate or graduate levels. We are currently offering an introductory GIS course for undergraduate students, worth 4 credits.  For this we use a 15 seat licence agreement acquired from Clark Labs, USA. The LAQUASIG unit has provided guidance for undergraduate research students holding a research grant as well as non-grantees. We have accepted students from other universities within Brazil as well as from abroad for limited periods (up to 6 months). The lab also supports and guides students enrolled at Santa Úrsula's Master in Marine Sciences degree program. 

 

        International cooperation has been maintained with the University of Stirling, Scotland-UK, where exchanges were held for 3 years, and collaborators from both institutions engaged in GIS and environmental studies which included surveys in Sepetiba bay aboard the R/V Úrsula. This collaboration was funded by CAPES and British Council and provided valuable support. The University of Gröningen was represented in Rio by students Roy Bleuminck and Erwin Van Dyke who fulfilled their end of course dissertation requirements using GIS to evaluate stock of clams in Sepetiba Bay and mapping of the roseate spoonbill habitat in Itaipu lagoon.

 

      LAQUASIG ocasionally is requested to engage in studies for the private sector regarding feasibility for aquaculture implementation or develop environmental sensitivity studies.